WEEK 13 - I can't lie to you about your chances, but you have my sympathies.

[al2955]

the pygmalion. . . ONLINE CAPTAIN'S LOG: WEEK (13)

sunday (41) survivors Something in the air breaks, shattering from deep within space itself - and to accompany that sensation is a psychic scream. The ship shakes, coming to a screeching halt as a bright light explodes outside it. It pulses, not unlike a heartbeat, that crawls and crawls along at a slow, grueling pace. The last illusion has been broken, the last mental tie severed and crushed. You've done well up until now, and you can reap the benefits of Her labor; the dead walk among you, after all, and as Her scream rings out, a burst of energy shoots through the residents of the Pygmalion. It's clearly a desperate bid, but it doesn't root itself in place. Instead, you feel lighter than ever - Her attempt to claim you has only unraveled the string that kept you in place. The 40% limit has been lifted, and you are at full capacity. The chains have been broken. Go freely, heroes. taken list profiles private conversations setting rulebook ENTER COMMAND_

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parlour

[baptizer]

[ Okay, there's a big irony in this.

There has to be. With all the shit going down, even with how physically weak she had become since revival and how much relied on her - she is calming her nerves. At 100% power, she needs to relax. After 13 weeks of dealing with bullshit, Elizabeth requests to be guided to the parlour where she can sit down at a small coffee table and pour herself a glass of wine.

And fucking chug it because this is too much.

She won't get drunk, but she is definitely enjoying a big chilled glass of wine before their inevitable deaths or her - no, ... well, that's to come later. :) ]

[qundercover]

[Bull's version of a glass is. An entire bottle. So simply raising that to her health as she chugs it.]

Think you're supposed to toast before downing the first one of the evening.

[baptizer]

Cheers for living as long as we did? [ Uh. ] Well.. coming back doesn't count, I guess.

[ She offers a feigned smile. ]

What do you usually say at toasts?

[bloodteller]

[ you know who is definitely down to get drunk? this chick. yuno settles in, shoulder to shoulder with elizabeth, and she's holding onto an empty glass. ]

Can I get some? It's not a problem, is it?

[ and for extra measure, she's laying her head on liz's shoulder. she's tired, drained, all out of bite, but there's a fire in her eyes. with elizabeth here, she's ready for anything. ]

[baptizer]

[ Elizabeth obliges, pouring a modest amount. Who the hell is she to judge at this point? They've come so far and she hopes that she'll forget the idle itching that ate away at her skin. Worst memory. ]

Be careful - this... ugh. This has quite a sweet taste to it.

[ They're all completely dead inside and Elizabeth just basically cuddles Yuno. They're close. Sisters, she'd think, in some weird cosmic way. ]

You're feeling alright?

[bloodteller]

[ they're absolutely sisters, in yuno's heart. elizabeth is the family she's always needed, and she's happy to share a drink with her in a quiet moment. there's always the possibility it'll be their last quiet moment together, but yuno stomps the thought of her mind. no. she'll make sure there's a happy, idyllic life for both of them once they're off this ship. ]

I'm okay. Just tired.

[ she takes a sip, and it is sweet. her lips pucker in thought, and her reflection stares back at her. ] I'm happy to see you. You're warm. And thank you, for the wine.

[baptizer]

[ Elizabeth thanked Yuno profusely since her revival - endlessly for how she dealt with the nightmare cradle. For saving her. For allowing her freedom.

Yeah, they're both pretty tired and she nods in acknowledgment. She takes her own swig at the same time and their faces both scrunch up.

Sisters. ]

Better warm than data. It's not the best - I don't think - but it'll due. For now. ..I hear Paris has an unmatched collection of vineyards.

[bloodteller]

[ she laughs, a small giggle. yuno turns her head so that her chin is balanced on elizabeth's shoulder and their faces are inches from the other's so she can stare up into her blue eyes. how nostalgic, she thinks. ]

You've got an idea, don't you? ...I'll go if you go.

[baptizer]

Depends - I've had a lot of ideas since getting another lease on life.

[ Even if... she still wants to just go back to the safety of her tower. She doesn't take another drink, she just braces the girl, holds her. ]

[bloodteller]

[ yuno will sling an arm around elizabeth's shoulder, returning the embrace. ]

Then we'll do all of them. All of your ideas. This is just... One last cage to break out of. After that, we're free. Both of us.

[baptizer]

You remember what we discussed, correct? Once we're able to get everyone - once we're all rested enough and this is left behind... I'll need your help for this.

[ Elizabeth leans forward, pressing her lips against Yuno's temple. She gives her a tightened hug, sighing into her pink strands of hair. ]

Just once more and we're free.

[ She repeats. ]

[bloodteller]

[ there are about a hundred-thousand emotions running through yuno the moment elizabeth's lips touch her forehead and all of them are different forms of relief and adoration that she can't contain. her cheeks flush and her body tingles with the knowledges she's desired, needed - that she means something and someone is willing to hold her like this. ]

A-- anything you need at all. I'm here. I'm here, Elizabeth, and I'll help you. I won't let you face it alone. We can do it. [ and the embrace is returned, the glass of wine forgotten on the coffee table so yuno can wrap her arms around elizabeth. ] Together.

[baptizer]

[ Yuno was valued. She was treasured, in Elizabeth's eyes. She sees her not as a murderer... but as a girl who desperately tried to escape her shackles. Instead of self-sacrificing, she shows a vengeance she envies. ]

Right. That's it.

[ Elizabeth speaks a true, encouraging word - simple and needed. This is the gayest thing that has happened on the ship and Grel assimilated with Alice??? ]

[tevinteriscoming]

[He could be very smug right now. But he isn't going to; she always had good intentions with the wine, no matter how he tried to pretend otherwise, and she has a lot to be worried about.

He pours himself a very small glass; he wants his mind to be sharp if he needs to solve something on the fly, but a little wine is no problem.]

May I join you?

[baptizer]

[ Not only did Elizabeth try so desperately to prevent vices from taking control, but she used it as a murder weapon. Go figure? Dorian's presence was comforting, but she absolutely knows the irony and context. ]

Not at all. May as well before Jason and Clover crash us into the nearest meteor.

...How have you been?

[tevinteriscoming]

[He laughs a little at that question, though not with any malice.]

Where I'm from, the only appropriate answer to such a question is anything along the lines of, 'Oh, very well. And yourself?' Can you imagine? But I will choke down the reflex.

I have seen better days. I suspect I shall see worse ones. But for the time being, not as terribly as I might be.

[baptizer]

Manners mean less here as the weeks go on. [ A light shrug as she takes a sip, obviously scrunching her nose. ] It's good to see you again, Dorian...

[ That sounds honest, warm and true. ]

If things go according to plan, you'll have many of days left to make worse than this. I hope you're ready.

[tevinteriscoming]

I should hope if things go according to plan, I'll have many days to make better. But worse often finds me.

[Smiling at her honesty; it's a nice thing, to have everyone back again.]

You deserve to have many days left, too.

[baptizer]

[ Her lips curve up. ]

There's the realist we've all know and love - don't worry... I intend to undo any damage this project has done.

[ She's not so sure about the last bit, but she waves it off with a nod. ]

The final hour is the most dramatic - the last few chapters that culimate through introspection and countless lead up. ...I'm a little nervous.

[tevinteriscoming]

Is that how you see it? It's freeing, I think, knowing that everything is coming to an ending. Whether we succeed or not, it's still an ending. We could have chosen an easier path, but we chose this nigh impossible one, and I for one feel better for it, no matter how it turns out.

[Taking a sip of wine, if only to have a break from saying such things.]

So, yes. I'm not worried.

[baptizer]

I'm a bit more selfish now that I know I have a second chance to do things right. I don't want to squander it on bad ends to poorly rushed stories.

[ She can equate this all to one horrible book, honestly. ]

You can worry not for the both of us. I'm playing my part and - I guess that is all I can do.

[bloodbiter]

[she's coming into the parlor with shaky legs, pressing a hand to her injured forearm with a grimace. she doesn't need any healing; she just needs to sit for a minute.

she sees elizabeth as she enters, just in time to see her down a glass of wine. the laugh that comes out is amused, exhausted, and a little bit hysterical all in one. it's been a long... three months, really.

she takes a seat near her.]

Would you pour another?

[she needs like five pounds of whiskey but this will have to do.]

[baptizer]

[ It's quite the sight, but maybe it's all too deserving. Elizabeth earned the chance to relax.

For now. When Adelina joins her, she flashes a warm smile and reaches over to the spare three glasses. Wine isn't exactly the best, she thinks, but it'll do, yes.

Sliding the glass over, Elizabeth's a bit lazy with her movements - obviously tired. ]

Hancock's somewhere probably cackling like a maniac... but, they say wine calms nerves.